A Century-Old Harpoon Fragment Was Found in the Body of a Bowhead Whale (1 photo)
In the wild, bowhead whales live an average of 40 years, but some individuals can live well over a century. The whalers' discovery is further proof of this. 
In 2007, Alaskan whalers killed a bowhead whale and discovered the remains of an ancient harpoon when they opened the carcass. 
Analysis of the weapon revealed that it was made in the American city of New Bedford in the late 19th century – at the time, it was considered the capital of the whaling industry. These "exploding" harpoons pierced the animal and detonated once inside, inflicting fatal wounds. 
At the time, researchers speculated that the whale was shot sometime between 1885 and 1895, but survived and continued to swim in polar waters until it was captured by Inuit more than a century later. This would mean the whale was at least 112-115 years old at death. Analysis of the whale's lens confirmed this theory (whales' lenses become cloudy with age).
The discovery of the harpoon fragments further proved that bowhead whales are among the longest-lived mammals on Earth. It is believed that some members of this species can live for as long as two centuries.
Bowhead whales are considered endangered and listed in the Red Book, but several indigenous communities in Chukotka—as well as Alaska and Greenland—have whaling quotas.
